Let's Overanalyze "Home Alone" and "Home Alone 2"

I've been promising this thread for a while, and the Holiday Season is finally here guys. Whats a better way to spend the holidays by overanalyzing Christmas films like the cynical a-holes we are? Without a doubt my favorite Christmas film in my youth was "Home Alone", until of course I ran into Christmas Vacation. People seem to think that Home Alone is ridiculous in many ways, but if you have overanalyzed this film as much as I have and looked at this world through Kevin's eyes, it all becomes quite plausible (aside from Marv getting his face bashed in with an iron, he'd have his skull shattered over that one). Yeah Home Alone 2 isn't realistic at all, but the first is completely realistic once you see the world through Kevin's eyes.

So this isn't going to be an ordinary analysis from me. Its going to be character by character and situation by situation analysis from me on what the frick is going on in these two films (the first more than the second). I'm about to rewatch the first one and take notes and report back on my findings over the next month. Please feel free to overanalyze these films with me and share your opinions on these films.

And by the way, talking about Home Alone 3 will not be tolerated in this thread. That film is an abomination and completely terrible. I've even heard rumors that there is a 4th film out there somewhere *shutters*

quote:I refuse to overanalyze a movie that was a staple of my childhood and an important part of every Christmas since I was 9.

Trust me, unlike most movies, it makes the film better. Granted you'll sympathize far less with the McCalisters than you would before, but Kevin becomes a better, and more sympathetic and understandable character by overanalyzing what the hell is going on.

When Kevin is all grown up and has a kid of his own do you think he would intentionally leave him home alone to test and instill a sense of responsibility, survival, craftiness, and maturity in him recognizing the values of his situation as a kid?

quote:When Kevin is all grown up and has a kid of his own do you think he would intentionally leave him home alone to test and instill a sense of responsibility, survival, craftiness, and maturity in him recognizing the values of his situation as a kid?

A kid like Kevin doesn't grow up to have kids. All will be explained. Got about a page and a half and am only 5 minutes into the film.

quote:When Kevin is all grown up and has a kid of his own do you think he would intentionally leave him home alone to test and instill a sense of responsibility, survival, craftiness, and maturity in him recognizing the values of his situation as a kid?

Doubtful. The world we live in today is far different than the one Kevin survived in the early 90s.

Example: Kevin had to go to the grocery store. Should Kevin's child be in such a situation, he could go on the internet and in a couple of clicks have groceries delivered over night.

First, he has to plan out walking there and finding out what he needs. Not an easy task for anyone that age. So he finally goes to the grocery store and attempts to check out, likely feeling a sense of accomplishment. Lo and behold, the lady at the checkout looking at him as if he has a swastika tattooed on his face. Seriously, watch that part of the movie and check out the look she gives him. Okay, bad look, got to get over that, proceed to check out.

She asks where his mother and father are. Not a friendly, "You doin' some shopping by yourself today?" No, it's blatantly asking where in the frick are your parents you stupid fricking kid. Then she asks about brothers and sisters. Let's get to the kicker: She asks him where he lives. Who in the frick is this lady to ask him where Kevin lives? You're a cashier at a grocery store, not a special ops military unit leader finding information on a suspected terrorist. Okay, so he's finally done with the interrogation and he has to walk him with groceries in the cold. Not only does the grocery store company hire employees with atrocious customer service skills, but they order their plastic bags from a cheap vendor. Kevin should have made a call to the Better Business Bureau.

quote:Home Alone 2 just made no sense. You've foiled there plan Kevin, there's no need to throw a brick through the window and lure them into your trap, just call the fricking cops kid.

What if they didn't fall for the same shite again Kevin??? Then not only do you end up dead, but you've completely ruined christmas for a bunch of orphans so you could play hero. IDIOT

I agree with this certainly, but its still got some funny parts. Home Alone 1 though is completely plausible under the circumstances we can eventually figure out if we study the writing, characters and circumstances enough.

First, he has to plan out walking there and finding out what he needs. Not an easy task for anyone that age. So he finally goes to the grocery store and attempts to check out, likely feeling a sense of accomplishment. Lo and behold, the lady at the checkout looking at him as if he has a swastika tattooed on his face. Seriously, watch that part of the movie and check out the look she gives him. Okay, bad look, got to get over that, proceed to check out.

She asks where his mother and father are. Not a friendly, "You doin' some shopping by yourself today?" No, it's blatantly asking where in the frick are your parents you stupid fricking kid. Then she asks about brothers and sisters. Let's get to the kicker: She asks him where he lives. Who in the frick is this lady to ask him where Kevin lives? You're a cashier at a grocery store, not a special ops military unit leader finding information on a suspected terrorist. Okay, so he's finally done with the interrogation and he has to walk him with groceries in the cold. Not only does the grocery store company hire employees with atrocious customer service skills, but they order their plastic bags from a cheap vendor. Kevin should have made a call to the Better Business Bureau.

These are the kind of posts I'm wanting in this thread. By the way I'm 15 minutes into the film and have 3 and a half pages of material thus far, all pretty much rants on how terrible of people the McAlester's are.